Why you should upgrade your browser

Here at SharpSchool, we’re all about designing websites and web solutions that optimize the K-12 learning experience. Security, optimized loading speeds, attractive graphics and animation are some of the key criteria that define a well-built district website. However, despite your webmaster’s best efforts, one little thing may undermine your whole web experience – your web browser.

Is your browser old?

The latest official releases of the major browsers are Internet Explorer (IE) 9, Safari 5.1, Firefox 9, Chrome 16 and Opera 11.6. If you’re using versions older than these, then it’s probably time to upgrade your browser.

Here are 5 reasons why you should update your web browser:

1) Old browsers are more vulnerable to viruses, spyware and malware

Security is especially important for the K-12 community. A virus could hijack your browser and expose your students to inappropriate material. Malware and other security issues can also damage hardware, which many schools can’t afford to replace.

2) Old browsers are prone to crashing

Older browsers take longer to process images, programming scripts and other web functions. When the browser takes too long to process files, it also increases the likelihood of a browser time-out, which directly impacts your district website’s usability.

3) Old browsers are not compatible with today’s web development standards

Older browsers, like IE 6 & 7 were not built to support web design standards as common as jQuery and cascading style sheets (CSS). While SharpSchool’s solution is backward compatible with older versions of a variety of web browsers, these web standards form the foundation of many new websites and online tools. Having an upgraded browser will ensure that the site’s design and web functions can render correctly on school computers and mobile devices.

4) New browsers keep you updated

It is common practice that new browsers provide automatic updates or prompt users to upgrade when new versions are made available. This ensures that you always have access to the latest plugins and built-in security features from your new browser.

About Sharpschool

SharpSchool was founded in 2001 with the goal of helping schools improve communication and student learning. We have helped over 3,000 schools & districts meet the evolving needs of 21st century learners. The SharpSchool community is full of educators who are passionate about K-12 educational technology. We are not just a software provider. We are your trusted partner in this exciting time of ed-tech revolution.